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Walcott – We have improved
Theo Walcott believes Arsenal would give Barcelona more of a game this time around should they draw the Catalans in the UEFA Champions League.
The Gunners lost 6-3 on aggregate to the Spanish giants at the quarter-final stage of the competition last year.
Walcott was introduced as a substitute in the first leg at the Emirates and scored to help Arsenal fight back from two goals down to earn a draw.
But the Gunners had no answer to Lionel Messi in the second leg as the Argentinean scored a magnificent four goals to send Arsene Wenger’s side crashing out.
This year, the Gunners qualified for the knockout stage in second place in Group H with a 3-1 win over Partizan Belgrade on Wednesday.
They will now face either Barcelona or Real Madrid or German pair Bayern Munich and Schalke when the knockout stage draw takes place in Nyon, Switzerland next Friday.
Walcott is relishing the prospect of taking on the Catalans again if the Gunners are paired with Pep Gaurdiola’s side.
Best
“If you want to be the best, you have to play the best,” said Walcott.
“We want to go that one step further – if we do get Barcelona, we don’t want Messi to do what he did to us last season.
“I would love to go back there and show them what we are all about this season.
“We want to win silverware for the fans because they have waited too long.
“We have improved – new personnel have come in and we have players coming back from injury soon.
“It doesn’t matter to us, we will play anyone and try to win the game.”
United clash
Of more immediate concern for the Gunners is a top-of-the-table Premier League clash at Manchester United on Monday.
Walcott knows getting the better of Sir Alex Ferguson’s men at Old Trafford will be no easy task, despite Arsenal’s impressive away form.
“United have not lost in the league yet, so hopefully we can be the first to do that,” he said.
“Manchester United are not playing the best, but these are the games where they will step up.
“Yet if they are not playing well and still are second in the league, then we don’t want to catch them on a good day.
“But we have just got to go there and play with no fear, express ourselves and then the best performance will come out.
“We need to get something there and the way we are playing away from home, we can beat anyone.”
Harry eyes Defoe boost
Harry Redknapp has admitted he is desperate to welcome Jermain Defoe back from injury.
The Tottenham striker has been sidelined since undergoing an ankle operation in September that was initially expected to keep him out for three months.
He is making good progress in his recovery and has set his sights on a possible return against North London rivals Arsenal on 20th November.
Spurs have enjoyed some memorable European nights in his absence, including a stunning 3-1 victory over Inter Milan in the UEFA Champions League.
However, they have struggled for goals in the Premier League, scoring just 13 times in 11 matches this term.
Redknapp believes that figure would be considerably higher if Defoe had remained fit.
He said: “We have missed Defoe’s goals.
“I am sure he would have five or six already, which makes a massive difference.
“We miss the little fellow.”
Redknapp shuns Bale talk
Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp insists that a bid of around £25-30million would not be enough to secure the services of Gareth Bale.
The 21-year-old Spurs star is the man of the moment following an outstanding performance against Inter Milan in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday night which saw his side earn a 3-1 victory.
Bale ran rings around Brazilian defender Maicon to bag two assists and send the Nerazzurri back to Italy with their tails between their legs.
Indeed, the Serie A champions will no doubt be relieved to see the back of the Welshman after he netted a remarkable hat-trick in the reverse fixture a fortnight ago.
Bale’s recent hot streak will have turned the heads of Europe’s top clubs, with speculation mounting that big-money bids could some come flying in for the former Southampton youngster.
However, Redknapp has reaffirmed the fact that he is not for sale and claims if Bale were to go, it would be for a lot more than £30million
“They wouldn’t buy him for that, that’s for sure,” he told Sky Sports.
“If he had a value, if we wanted to sell him, his value would be way in excess of that sort of figure.
“He really is an amazing young player. We wouldn’t even entertain a bid. The chairman has said he’s not for sale and that’s good enough.
“We don’t want to sell him and we’re looking to build a team at Tottenham. We’re a club that’s going places – we’ve got a new training ground coming, change of stadium, the whole thing is going forward.
“Daniel (Levy) has said on many occasions we’re not looking to sell our best players now.
“We’re looking to build a team and if you build a team you’ve got to hang onto the Gareth Bales of this world.”
Bale terrorised Inter right-back Maicon at White Hart Lane, having tormented him at the San Siro two weeks previously.
Destroyed
Redknapp believes the Brazil international is an excellent player, but admits he was ‘destroyed’ on the night.
“I think we saw in the first game he’s playing against a right-back who, if you were picking your world XI before we played them, would have been it,” he added.
“He was voted European defender of the year last year and no disrespect to him, he’s obviously a good player, but Gareth absolutely destroyed him.
“To do that against someone as highly rated as Maicon just shows you what a performance he put in.
“It must have been tough for him, I don’t think he’s ever suffered like that before.
“There’s not too many wide men around nowadays and maybe they (full-backs) don’t get tested enough. As a right-back he was tested to the full in the last two games and proved that he is vulnerable defensively.”
On incoming transfer possibilities, Redknapp remarked: “It’s difficult to bring players into that squad because there’s so many good players there.
“There are so many good players not getting into the team at the moment that deserve to play. People like Niko Kranjcar, Robbie Keane, (Roman) Pavlyuchenko, all these people. Jermaine Jenas started on the bench last night with Wilson Palacios.
“If you’re going to bring anybody they’ve got to be better than what you’ve got and unless they’re top, top drawer, it’s not a case of bringing average players in.”
Smith welcomes pressure
Walter Smith is welcoming the extra pressure after Rangers’ unbeaten start to their UEFA Champions League campaign.
The Scottish champions head into Tuesday night’s clash in Valencia sitting second in Group C, with five points from their opening three games.
This form is in stark contrast to last season when Smith’s side crashed out of the competition with no wins to their name.
The Rangers boss believes the pressure is on both his side and the Spanish outfit, who sit a point behind, but he is relishing the situation.
He said: “There is no doubt there is pressure on us to get a result tomorrow night, it’s not just Valencia who want to do well in the tournament.
“We have started well and we welcome the extra pressure that’s on us at the present moment.
“To see if we can try to remain in the tournament after Christmas is a pressure that’s welcome.
“Last season, we were never in this position and we are quite pleased to be in it at the moment.”
Still favourites
After an opening game victory over Bursaspor, Valencia lost to Manchester United and then drew at Ibrox.
But Smith believes the Spanish side are still favourites to progress from Group C – along with the Red Devils – despite losing players such as David Villa in the last transfer window.
He added: “Valencia would have started as anyone’s favourite at the start of the campaign.
“Manchester United and Valencia were the two favoured teams to remain in the Champions League. I still think that’s the case.
“You mention Valencia’s last two results but when you lose the players they lost in the close-season, it always takes a bit of time to find your feet.
“They did so exceptionally well in the early part but there were always going to be one or two problems.
“For the last few seasons, David Villa has been their top goalscorer and, when there was a little bit of a problem, he would do something special to win a game.
“Maybe in the last couple of games they haven’t had that but overall they are still an extremely strong team and still the favoured team to go through in this competition.”
Anelka keen to stay at Chelsea
Nicolas Anelka has declared his intention to sign a new deal with Chelsea while his compatriot Gael Kakuta is leaving the Blues sweating on his future.
Anelka was on hand to chalk up his 50th goal for the club in their 2-0 win over Spartak Moscow in the UEFA Champions League this week.
His performances this term have led many to conclude that he is in the form of his life, as he has plundered eight goals already.
And with life at Stamford Bridge proving to be so idyllic, the 31-year-old striker is eager to prolong his stay.
Scored
“It is the first time I have scored that many for any club but it is the first time I have spent more than two-and-a-half years at a club as well,” said Anelka.
“It shows how happy I am at Chelsea. When I first signed here I knew I had arrived at a big club and I wanted to stay as long as possible.
“I don’t know what will happen in the future. After this season I have one more year on my current deal and I will see what will happen because you never know.
“But I am very happy here and I would be glad to sign for more years.
“I am just very satisfied to achieve two landmarks with Chelsea in goals and how long I have spent here; it has just been special to score goals for Chelsea.”
The future of French starlet Kakuta does not seem as cut and dried.
Chelsea signed the 19-year-old amidst much controversy in 2007, only for the forward to sustain a broken ankle.
He was subsequently banned by Fifa for four months for breaching his contract with French club Lille in order to sign with Chelsea.
Chelsea, too, were banned from signing players in two transfer windows as a result of this but this order was eventually quashed by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
However, his future is again up for discussion.
Salary
“I don’t discuss the salary of players,” said Ancelotti.
“Technically, it’s best for Kakuta – he’s young, he’s trying to improve and we’re the best team for him to stay with.
“He has to take a decision to sign or not. We’re sure he’ll sign because he’s an intelligent player and an intelligent man.”
Jose Bosingwa is in line to make his first start for the Blues in a year after recovering from a knee injury against Wolves tomorrow.
Didier Drogba is also poised to return after a virus but midfielder Frank Lampard is still not ready for a comeback.
“I can say that Bosingwa will start – this is very good news after a long period,” continued Ancelotti.
“Everyone is excited to see him back and he’s a very important player. We need a full-back with power and resistance. He has all these skills. Drogba will come back. He is fit and able to play.”
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